List of European birds
In this article,
Europe refers to the geographical continent, not the somewhat larger Western
Palearctic, which includes parts of the
Middle East and north
Africa.
There are about 700 species of bird in the area, and in general the avifauna is similar to Asia north of the Himalayas, which shares the same ecozone. There are also many groups shared with North America.
Conversely, many of the southern hemisphere groups, including the ancient flightless Struthioniformes (ostrich family), and their relatives the tinamous are not represented at all.
European birds include the following families:
Gaviiformes
Podicepiformes
Procellariiformes
Pelecaniformes
- Pelecanidae pelicans
- Sulidae gannets
- Phalacrocoracidae cormorants
- Fregatidae frigatebirds very rare vagrant
- Phaethontidae tropicbirds very rare vagrant
Ciconiiformes (American taxonomists often include all the
raptors in this family.)
- Ardeidae herons and bitterns
- Ciconiidae: storks
- Threskiomithidae ibises and spoonbills
- Phoenicopteridae flamingos
Anseriformes
Accipitriformes (Some classifications also include the Falconidae.)
Falconiformes (Sometimes included in the Accipitriformes.)
Galliformes
Gruiformes
Charadriformes
- Haematopodidae oystercatchers
- Charadrfidae plovers
- Scolopacidae typical waders or shorebirds
- Burhinidae thick-knees
- Glareolidae coursers and pratincoles
- Stercoraracidae skuas
- Laridae gulls
- Sternidae terns
- Rhynchopidae skimmers
- Alcidae auks
Pterocliformes
Columbiformes (Worldwide; 300 species.)
Psittaciformes
- Psittacidae parrots introduced only
Cuculiformes
Strigiformes
Caprimulgiformes
Apodiformes
Coraciiformes
- Alcedinidae kingfishers
- Meropidae bee-eaters
- Coraciidae rollers
- Upupidae Hoopoe
Piciformes
Passeriformes perching birds
- Alaudidae larks
- Hirundinidae swallows and martins
- Motacillidae wagtails and pipits
- Bombycillidae waxwings
- Cinclidae dippers
- Troglodytidae wrens
- Prunellidae accentors
- Turdidae thrusheses and chatss
- Corvidae crows
- Sylviidae Old World warblers
- Regulidae kinglets
- Muscicapidae Old World flycatchers
- Aegithalidae long-tailed tits
- Remizidae penduline tits
- Paridae titmice
- Tichodromadidae Wallcreeper
- Sittidae nuthatches
- Certhiidae treecreepers
- Laniidae shrikes
- Corvidae crows and jays
- Emberizidae buntingss and American sparrows
- Thraupidae tanagers very rare vagrant
- Vireonidae vireos very rare vagrant
- Parulidae New World warblers very rare vagrant
- Icteridae icterids very rare vagrant
- Fringillidae finches
- Estrildidae waxbills etc introduced
- Ploceidae weavers and sparrows
- Sturnidae starlings
- Oriolidae orioles
The links above lead to family accounts and hence to individual species. Taxonomy is very fluid in the age of
DNA analysis, so other arrangements may be found.
See also